How to build a segment off of a static marketing list

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Segments is the starting point of customer journeys in Dynamics 365 for Marketing. The segment builder is a very powerful tool to build even the most complex dynamic segments.

However, I often get asked how to build the most simple segment - a segment built off of a static marketing list.

This will enable scenarios like those where a seller (perhaps working in Dynamics 365 for Sales, which also provides access to the marketing lists) can add a contact to a marketing list, in order to include that contact in customer journeys.

#1 Create a static marketing list

Create a static marketing list in the Dynamics 365 for Marketing app (or the Sales app), and add a couple of contacts to the marketing list

#2 Create a segment

Navigate to Segments (1) and delete the default profile (2)

Expand the profile drop-down
Pick Marketing List (we will target a named marketing list)
Expand the property drop-down and select the Name property
Expand the operator drop-down and select the Is operator (or maybe Contains)
Type the name of your Marketing List (1) and then click +Add (2)
Expand the profile drop-down
Select the relationship Marketing List <-> Contact (listmember_list_contact) to return the contacts in (the members of) the named marketing list#3 Publish
Segments won't populate before they're published (Live).
Name your segment (1) and Go Live (2)
Wait a few minutes, refresh the screen, and see your contacts added to the segment

We now have a segment to handle the members of a static marketing list. Sellers can add more contacts to the list if they need them included in a customer journey.

Below I've added a third contact (Ava Rich) to the marketing list "Zoo" and after about 30 minutes the marketing list has been synched with the insights cloud and the segment is updated